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USSR invades Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1978 during the Cold War for power. Osama bin Laden and Arab Afghans fight against them. In 1988, the Soviet army left Afghanistan. Bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia and the US left, leaving behind their stinger anti-aircraft guns. -
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Iran-Iraq War
Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq, led his country into war against Iran. The US ended up giving support to both sides, worsening relationships. -
Iraq invades Kuwait
In 1990, Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing from their oil fields by extracting diagonally into their territory. After receiving no help, they invaded Kuwait. -
Operation Desert Shield
After Iraq invaded Kuwait, countries quickly set up forces to deter Iraq from attacking neighboring countries. Saudi Arabia asked for US assistance which angered Osama bin Laden, as he felt they had no place in the Holy land of Islam. -
Persian Gulf War Begins
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Persian Gulf War
Due to the invasion of Kuwait, the US, leading many other countries, attacked Iraq. The United Nations also placed sanctions on Iraq. Osama bin Laden and his group "al Qaeda" moved to Sudan. -
Assistance in Somalia
The US sent 28000 troops to Somalia in order to help as assistance was being blocked by warlords. -
World Trade Center Bombed
Pakistani national Ramzi Yousef bombs the parking garage of the World Trade Center killing six people and injuring more than 1000. -
Al Qaeda Attacks
While in Somalia, 18 Americans were killed when they were shot down from their Black Hawk helicopters or in battles. The Somalis that shot down the helicopters were taught how to use the US stinger anti-aircraft guns by al Qaeda operatives. -
Khobar Towers Bombed
A terrorist attack occurred where the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia were bombed, killing 19 American soldiers and injuring hundreds. Osama bin Laden also returned to Afghanistan during this time. -
Al Qaeda declares War
Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, leaders of Al Qaeda, declare war on the United States of America. The same year, they bombed two US embassies, simulatenously, in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 220 people. -
The Millenium Attacks
While three terrorist attacks were attempted and failed, Al Qaeda managed to successfully send a suicide bomber in the USS Cole, killing 17 sailors. -
9/11
On September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda sent out twenty terrorists to board four planes and take them hostage. One plane hit a field in Pennsylvania after the passengers fought against the terrorists. One plane hit the pentagon. Two planes hit the World Trade Center, killing 2819 people and placing the attack in history as the deadliest terrorist attack. The War on Terror begins. -
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War in Afghanistan
After 9/11, the US president announced that they were sending military forces into Afghanistan. This was because Osama bin Laden was hiding in Afghanistan at the time and they were unwilling to give him up. -
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Iraq War
In response to the 9/11 attacks, President Bush also began a war in Iraq. The purpose of the war was to destroy supposed "weapons of mass destruction" and take down Saddam Hussein, who they claimed was with Bin Laden. -
Iraq - Al Qaeda connection
A 9/11 commission revealed that there was no connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. -
Saddam Hussein Dies
Saddam Hussein was executed after being tried for his crimes. In an attempt to prevent dictatorship, the US instituted a new government system where all three religions were represented. -
Civil Wars
As a result of the Arab Spring, civil wars or revolutions begin in Syria, Yemen, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and possibly more. Some of the wars are ongoing today. -
Arab Spring
Boazizi's death and other factors began a widespread trend of rising against your own government. This quickly spread and led to multiple civil wars, rebellion, uprisings and protests. -
Mohamed Bouazizi
Mohamed Bouazizi was a street vendor in Tunisia. After having his goods taken and getting harassed, Bouazizi set himself on fire in an act of protest. Although he died of his injuries, his death sparked great acts of rebellion, known as the Arab Spring. -
Operation Neptune Spear
On May 2, 2011, Navy SEALs infiltrated a walled compound in Pakistan that they suspected held Osama bin Laden and information. Although one helicopter crashed, the other SEALs managed to break in and kill Bin Laden. -
ISIS
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He returned home afterwards but ended up coming back to Afghanistan in 1996. When 9/11 occurred, he fled to Iraq. The Iraq War began in 2003 and angered soldiers join his group. They target Shia, sparking a Sunni-Shia war. While Zarqawi died in 2006, Baghdadi took over and formed the group ISIS. They become big and attempt to create a large holy land. They overreached however and due to a lack of connections, fail. -
ISIS Leader Dies
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dies.